Gasproof socket for fluorescent lamps



'lll INVENTOR,

ATTORNEYS.

V. N. WILLIAMS GAS PROOF SOCKET FORIFLUORESCENT LAMPS Sept. 15', 1942,

Filed June 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet l P v. N. WILLIAMS 2,295,883

GAS PROOF SOCKET FOR FLUORESCENT LAMPS Filed June 5, .1940 '2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR,

Whi /14f l V/W/dms.

BYW/M ATTORNEY$ Patented Sept. 15, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GASPROOF SOCKET F This invention relates to improvements in a gas proof socket for fluorescent lamps and has on FLUORESCENT 7 MP8 Victor N. Williams, Kansas City, Mo. Application me 5, 1940, Serial No. 338,904 1 Claim. (or. 173-328) for its principal object the provision of an elecconstruction, and ease and efliciency of operation.'

Minor objects and advantages will appear during the course of the following specification, referring to the drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a, fluorescent lamp mounted in sockets, embodying this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal foreshortened view, partly. in section, of the sockets with the fluorescent lamp in position therein.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on line III--III of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of a modified form of socket in operative relation with a fluorescent lamp.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged foreshortened elevation,

partly in section, of the sockets and lamp.

minal pins are adapted to be fitted into a socket I6, to form connections with electrical conductors l8 and 20, whereby current is -fed to the electrodes sealed in the lamp tube 22.

The socket has atwo-piece porcelain member 24 having members 26 and 28 joined together by means of assembly screws 30. The porcelain member 26 has a threaded central opening 32 adapted to receive the threaded end portion 34 of conduit 36. This porcelain 26 butts against porcelain memb'er28 and is provided with an enlarged chamber 38 to receive the terminal screws 40 of split sleeves 42, which receive pins l4.

Referring to Fig. 3, it will be noted that transverse slots 44 extend outwardly from sleeves 42 possible to insert the terminal pins transversely into the split sleeves therethrough. This portion of the socket, just described, is well-known in the art and might be substituted by many of the other different types now being used. It is the following connector sealing means that constitutes the present invention.

Slidably mounted on conduit 36 is a housing 46 having an outturned flange 48 provided with a ring flange 58 in axial alignment with the socket l6. This flange 58 overhangs end cap l2 when the parts are in the relative operative relation.

The fluorescent tube 22 is of greater diameter than the end caps l2, thus presenting a shoulder 52. An elastic ring or gasket 54, made of rubber or any other material having similar elastic qualities, is adapted to be snugly fltted over end caps 42 with the notched corner 56 resting against shoulder 52. The outer periphery of ring 54 fits against ring flange 50, while one side wall contacts flange 48. The inside diameter of housing 46 is slightly greater than the outside wall of capsl2, thus permitting free movement of the housing thereover to force the gasket ring 54 tightly against shoulder 52 and flange 48 to form an air seal between the parts.

The outer end wall 58 of housing 46 is perforated at 60 to receive the end portion of conduit 36, which is threaded at 6 2 to receive an adjustable nut 64. The threaded end portion of conduit 36 operatively engages porcelain 26 and communicates with chamber 38.

A fiber washer 66 is positioned between nut 64 and wall 58 to form a seal therebetween.

The conduits 36 should be considered as stationarily mounted on some structure or base so that as the nut 64 is screwed'to force it inwardly against the housing, the housing will compress the ring gasket 54 against shoulder 52. When changing lamps, the nut 64 is screwed outwardly until the housing can be moved away from lamp ID a sufficient distance to permit the contact pins to be raised out of position through slots 44. Another lamp can now be moved into the operating position and the nut 64 again set to close the housing, as described above. The ring flange is spaced apart from the outer periphery of flange 48, thereby producing an annular notch 68 suitable for receiving the extremities of a tubular housing (not shown) in spaced relation to lamp tube 22.

While housing 46 may be mounted to form a hermetically sealed chamber, with its associated parts for the reception of the electrical connector,

to the periphery of porcelain 28, thus making it however, since the main object is to provide a socket to prevent accidental fire due to sparking of the connector and to prevent water from contacting the connector parts, it is not necessary that the chamber be entirely free from air leakage.

Reference will now be had to the modified form shown in Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8, wherein the same fluorescent lamp I is used. The socket 10 comprises porcelain members !2 and I4 and a metal end base I6, all secured together by bolts 18 which are threaded into base I6. Conduit 86 is tightly threaded into 'hub 82 of base 16. Sockets l0, screws M3 and electrical conductors l8 and 20 are as shown and described in the preferred form.

The outer periphery of base 16 is threaded at 84 to receive the internally threaded end 86 0! take-up sleeve housing 88. The end wall 90 of housing 88 is provided with an annular opening 92, slightly greater in diameter than the outer diameter of the lamp tube 22. A ring 94 is soldered, cemented or otherwise securely attached to the end cap l2 of the fluorescent lamp, and has an outwardly projecting flange 96, see Fig. 6.

A rubber gasket 98 is positioned between end wall 90' and flange 9G to seal the inner end of the housing when the'housing is rotated relative to base 16 to compress said gasket. It is apparent that the electrical connector is sealed within the structure and will be protected from the natural elements and also explosive gases will be excluded scribed above, are simple, easily adjusted and will eliminate to a large degree, the fire hazards usually encountered when using electrical connectors for fluorescent lamps.

A further advantage gained by the use of the present invention is the cushioned mounting for the lamp which reduces the amount of lamp breakage.

Many minor changes might be made in the structure as described, without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is desired to be limited by the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

In an adaptor for a tubular fluorescent lamp having electric contact pins, a fixed conduit having its end portion externally threaded, a socket threaded to cooperatively engage the threads of said conduit and adapted to operatively engage of said lamp.

VICTOR. N. WILLIAMS. 

